The language of the draft National Identification Authority of India bill suggests it is for men, by men
Shyamanuja Das
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Even while the Unique ID project in India-officially called Aadhar-is being touted as the biggest governmental initiative to ensure inclusiveness, the language of the draft National Identification Authority of India bill, prepared by the Unique Identification Authority of India, suggests that it has excluded a half of India's population: women. The draft uses the pronoun “his” to refer to the aadhhar number holder.
“Every resident shall be entitled to obtain an aadhaar number on providing his demographic information and biometric information to the Authority in such manner as may be specified by regulations,” says the draft bill in the beginning of the Chapter II, where it introduces the aadhar numbers. In every place thereafter-there is at least nine such instances-where the aadhar number holder is referred using the masculine pronoun: his.
Interestingly, the draft bill also uses the same way to refer to its members and head. There are at least 20 places where an officer/member/chairperson has been referred to using masculine pronoun: his. However, the head of the body is designated chairperson, and not as chairman, making it gender neutral.
While this may be a faux pas, and many government documents are especially infamous for these, the Unique ID project, headed by ex Infosys CEO, Nandan Nilekani has been different and has acted in a far more professional manner.
“Many would argue that it is a trivial mistake and is not worth of serious discussion,” says an executive in an IT firm spearheading gender inclusiveness in the organization, “but it shows that even today, gender neutrality does not come naturally.”
The draft bill seeks to make the body, National Identification Authority of India, a statutory body. As of now, it is an office attached to the Planning Commission.
Shyamanuja Das
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Even while the Unique ID project in India-officially called Aadhar-is being touted as the biggest governmental initiative to ensure inclusiveness, the language of the draft National Identification Authority of India bill, prepared by the Unique Identification Authority of India, suggests that it has excluded a half of India's population: women. The draft uses the pronoun “his” to refer to the aadhhar number holder.
“Every resident shall be entitled to obtain an aadhaar number on providing his demographic information and biometric information to the Authority in such manner as may be specified by regulations,” says the draft bill in the beginning of the Chapter II, where it introduces the aadhar numbers. In every place thereafter-there is at least nine such instances-where the aadhar number holder is referred using the masculine pronoun: his.
Interestingly, the draft bill also uses the same way to refer to its members and head. There are at least 20 places where an officer/member/chairperson has been referred to using masculine pronoun: his. However, the head of the body is designated chairperson, and not as chairman, making it gender neutral.
While this may be a faux pas, and many government documents are especially infamous for these, the Unique ID project, headed by ex Infosys CEO, Nandan Nilekani has been different and has acted in a far more professional manner.
“Many would argue that it is a trivial mistake and is not worth of serious discussion,” says an executive in an IT firm spearheading gender inclusiveness in the organization, “but it shows that even today, gender neutrality does not come naturally.”
The draft bill seeks to make the body, National Identification Authority of India, a statutory body. As of now, it is an office attached to the Planning Commission.